From Human to Skeleton: Revived with Infinite System Crystals

The red-haired fighter recovered first, lunging at Osalf again. This time, Osalf anticipated the move. He sidestepped smoothly, grabbing the man's wrist mid-strike and twisting it sharply. The sound of bone snapping echoed through the air, followed by the man's howl of pain. Osalf didn't stop there, using the momentum to fling the fighter into the brute's path.

The brute snarled, catching his ally to prevent him from crashing to the ground. It was a mistake. Osalf's fingers curled, energy surging through his arm as he snapped his fingers. The red-haired fighter's head exploded in a burst of crimson, the sheer force spraying the brute with blood and gore.

The woman froze, her glaive trembling in her hands as her stoic composure cracked. The brute's roar of rage followed immediately, his hammer swinging wildly as he charged at Osalf. The impact of the weapon struck Osalf's hastily summoned barrier, the force shattering it and sending the general skidding backward. His back slammed into a fractured column, and he coughed violently, blood staining his lips.

"You'll pay for that," the brute bellowed, his eyes bloodshot with fury. He swung again, this time more recklessly, each strike tearing through the environment with devastating power. Osalf dodged narrowly, his movements sharp but growing slower with each passing second.

The woman in green regained her composure, her eyes narrowing with cold determination. She moved to flank Osalf, her glaive glowing with intensified gravitational energy.

"Together," she commanded, her voice cutting through the brute's rage. "Overwhelm him."

The brute grunted in acknowledgment, adjusting his attacks to work in tandem with hers. The coordinated assault pushed Osalf to his limits. The glaive's gravitational pull threw off his timing, leaving him vulnerable to the brute's crushing blows. He managed to block one strike with an energy barrier, but the effort cost him dearly. The woman's glaive sliced toward his exposed flank, catching him across the hip and forcing him to stagger.

"Is this the best you've got?" she mocked, her voice laced with venom.

Osalf's breathing was labored, his vision blurring from the blood trickling down his face. His left eye throbbed with pain, a brutal reminder of the injury inflicted by Yun Jin. The throbbing turned to searing agony as the woman's glaive nicked the scarred tissue, reopening the old wound. He hissed, clutching at his face briefly before forcing himself upright.

"You should've killed me when you had the chance," Osalf said, his tone deadly calm.

He extended his hand toward the woman, energy crackling at his fingertips. Her eyes widened as she realized too late what was about to happen. With a sharp snap of his fingers, the timed energy pocket he had planted earlier detonated directly beneath her. The explosion engulfed her in a violent burst of force, her scream cut short as the shockwave hurled her broken body against a jagged outcrop of stone.

Osalf ducked and weaved, his movements slower now but still precise. The hammer grazed him once, the impact sending a jolt of pain through his side. He retaliated with an explosive punch to the brute's chest, the force sending the larger man stumbling but not down.

"Is that all?" the brute growled, his voice dripping with venom. Blood dripped from his cracked lip, yet he stood taller, fueled by fury. He surged forward again, the hammer dragging deep grooves through the broken ground.

Osalf's breaths came in ragged gasps as he narrowly dodged another strike. His knees wavered. The woman's glaive lashed out from the side, its blade catching his arm and tearing through muscle. Blood spattered across the jagged stones, painting a macabre canvas as Osalf reeled back.

The world blurred around him. His vision narrowed, pain radiating from every part of his battered body. He staggered, his hand instinctively clutching the wound on his arm as the brute's hammer descended once more.

This time, it connected.

The force shattered Osalf's barrier with an ear-splitting crack, driving him to the ground. The impact sent tremors through his spine, his ribs groaning under the strain. He spat blood as he rolled to his side, every movement a struggle.

"Stay down, old man!" the brute snarled, raising the hammer for the final blow.

But Osalf didn't stay down. His fingers curled into fists, trembling as he pushed himself to his knees. He glanced up at the two remaining attackers, his eye swollen shut and blood streaming down his face. A sharp laugh bubbled from his throat, ragged and broken. Read exclusive content at My Virtual Library Empire

"What's so funny?" the woman demanded, her voice trembling despite her cold demeanor. The brutality had shaken even her unyielding resolve.

Osalf wiped the blood from his lips, his teeth stained crimson. "You'll see."

The brute snarled, stepping closer, but Osalf didn't flinch. His breathing slowed, the chaotic rise and fall of his chest replaced by an eerie calm.

"You're going to regret not finishing this sooner," he murmured.

The brute lunged, his hammer swinging in a final arc. Osalf raised his arms, letting the hammer strike squarely against his body. The sound was sickening—bones cracked, and blood erupted from Osalf's mouth. But he didn't fall.

The air around him shifted. It grew heavy, vibrating with an energy that seemed to emanate from deep within. The hammer trembled in the brute's grip, its weight suddenly unbearable. He stumbled back, confusion etched on his face as he stared at Osalf.

"What is this?" he barked, his voice faltering.

Osalf's lips curled into a twisted smile. His bloodied fingers twitched, and the ground beneath them began to pulse with a deep, resonant hum.

The woman's eyes widened in realization. "Get away from him!" she screamed, retreating. But it was too late.

Osalf's third skill activated. His body became a conduit for explosive energy, the damage he'd sustained fueling a devastating chain reaction. The ground erupted beneath the brute, jagged spikes of energy tearing through his legs and torso. Flesh and armor shredded apart as the raw force ripped him from the inside out. His scream was brief, ending in a gurgling silence as his mangled body crumpled to the ground.

The woman in green staggered, her glaive trembling in her grip. "No…" she whispered, terror overtaking her cold precision. She lunged at Osalf in a last-ditch effort, her blade aimed for his heart.

Osalf caught the glaive with his bare hand, his palm bleeding as he held the blade inches from his chest. The energy around him intensified, his entire body glowing with destructive force.

"You shouldn't have come here," he said, his voice steady despite the carnage around him.

With a final surge, the energy exploded outward. The woman's body was engulfed, her armor disintegrating as the raw power consumed her. Her scream echoed through the clearing, a haunting sound that lingered even as her form disintegrated into ash.

When the light faded, Osalf stood alone amidst the devastation. The spa's entrance was unrecognizable, the ground scarred and broken. Blood pooled at his feet, his own mixing with that of his enemies. His breaths were shallow, each one a monumental effort as he surveyed the destruction.

He swayed on his feet, his vision tunneling. The cost of his third skill was immense, his body barely able to hold itself together. But he'd won.

"Damn… fools," he muttered before collapsing to his knees. His hands pressed weakly into the shattered ground, trembling as he forced himself upright. Blood trickled from his wounds, a slow but unrelenting flow. Each step felt heavier than the last as he staggered forward, his mind clouded with exhaustion. He glanced toward the forest where his allies had retreated and exhaled a faint sigh of relief. They had made it out.

As he limped away from the ruins, a faint sound stopped him in his tracks. It was the soft, deliberate rhythm of footsteps, impossibly light against the broken stones. Osalf turned his head sharply, his body tensing despite the pain.

"Now, now," a sultry voice cooed, the sound curling through the air like smoke. "What a bloody mess you've made, don't you think?"

His eyes darted to the source, and there she was. A figure stepped into view, her dark purple eyes gleaming with mischief. A small, intricate glass piece adorned her face, catching the faintest glimmers of light. She wore a revealing outfit, her demeanor both playful and menacing as she unfolded an ornate fan. The swirling patterns etched onto it resembled the delicate, winding gears of a clock.

"Who… who are you?" Osalf rasped, his voice raw.